Today's Washington Post Travel section carries a story that is a good reminder to go with travel insurance from a provider not affilated with the cruiseline. I, for one, had no idea Windjammer was in such straits:

Passengers stranded in the Caribbean last week when their Windjammer Barefoot Cruise ships did not sail as scheduled still don't know whether they're getting reimbursed for cruises that never happened. Local authorities ordered the ships seized in Panama, Costa Rica and Aruba because of alleged labor disputes with the crews, including claims that workers' pay was withheld.

An investment firm poised to assume controlling interest in the family-run cruise company told the Wall Street Journal that customers would be compensated. But the private equity firm, TAG Virgin Islands, didn't reveal when or how. Nor did Windjammer. Neither responded to several requests for comment, but a posting on the Windjammer aficionado Web site Jammerbabe.com Thursday afternoon, apparently written by Windjammer spokeswoman Shannon Manno, confirmed that the company is being sold and said the new owner plans to "pump in the necessary cash to pay off all outstanding debts." The posting said Windjammer "intends to honor [its] commitments" to customers but provided no further details.

Windjammer has a loyal following of passengers who, even during its current troubles, swear by its cruises, which are known for their laid-back, freewheeling atmosphere. Even while stranded in a hotel in Panama City last week, Kay Georgi of Rockville told CoGo she'd continue to be a Windjammer customer "in a heartbeat," as she has been for 15 years.

Windjammer has had its share of financial woes in recent years, ever since a hurricane in 1998 destroyed its largest ship. Last week, crew members in Panama told stranded passengers that vendors, including food delivery companies, haven't been paid in months .